Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Size (2025 – 2030)

The Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market was valued at USD 15 billion in 2024. Over the forecast period of 2025-2030, it is projected to reach USD 22.07 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.65%.

Riboflavin is an essential nutrient for the body’s metabolic processes. A deficiency in this vitamin can interfere with the metabolism of other nutrients. Individuals experiencing this deficiency are likely to have decreased levels of flavin coenzymes, which can lead to conditions such as anemia or cataracts. While riboflavin offers several nutritional benefits, it may also cause a variety of adverse side effects. Commonly known as vitamin B2, riboflavin is naturally present in food sources and is also available in supplement form. The pharmaceutical sector utilizes vitamin B2 in the formulation of B-complex vitamins, as well as vitamin B2 tablets, capsules, and various multivitamin and multimineral supplements.

Key Market Insights:

• Increasing use in supplements: Riboflavin's versatility across various sectors drives its demand in the supplement industry.

• Prevalence of vitamin deficiencies: Growing concern over vitamin deficiencies, especially in Western diets and among older adults, is a major factor.

• Fortified foods market: In North America, the fortified foods market, particularly milk and dairy products enriched with Vitamin B2, is a significant contributor to the overall demand.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Drivers:

The increasing demand for fortified food and beverage products is a key factor driving the growth of the market.

Food fortification today focuses on promoting health and wellness, shifting from its previous goal of preventing micronutrient malnutrition. This change has created opportunities for manufacturers to enhance the value of their product categories by improving the health attributes of baked goods. According to the Food Fortification Initiative, a global organization that assists national leaders in promoting, organizing, and overseeing the fortification of industrially milled flour, maize flour, and rice, approximately 31% of the world's wheat flour is now fortified. The most commonly added nutrients include iron, zinc, and B vitamins such as folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.

Numerous government initiatives are being implemented to boost the consumption of fortified foods and beverages, especially in developing countries. In response to increasing consumer demand for fortified foods enriched with bioactive and essential vitamins, as well as rising awareness about vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency, manufacturers are expanding their product offerings by incorporating riboflavin fortification. Consequently, the primary driver of market growth is the increasing consumption of fortified foods and beverages, driven by consumer demand for bioactive ingredients like vitamin B2/riboflavin.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Restraints and Challenges:

The instability of riboflavin when exposed to light and heat poses a significant challenge, restraining the growth of the market.

The high demand for natural ingredients has made the development of vitamins and minerals, as well as their commercial aspects, complex, costly, and uncertain. The success of product development is influenced by various factors, including technological advancements, consumer demand, and regulatory frameworks. Riboflavin can be produced in large quantities through both chemical synthesis and fermentation. The fermentation process allows for the production of vitamin B2 in a single, cost-effective step.

In contrast, chemical synthesis involves multiple steps, making it a more expensive option. However, with the increasing demand for natural ingredients, producers have invested heavily in research and development, as well as in processing equipment. This investment has led to higher costs for naturally sourced ingredients like riboflavin, which poses challenges for packaged food manufacturers. Consequently, these factors hinder the potential for market expansion.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Opportunities:

The growing demand for vitamin B2 as part of organic poultry diets is creating new opportunities in the market.

In the last few years, There has been a notable rise in organic poultry production to meet the growing consumer demand for organic eggs and meat. Additionally, riboflavin is essential for the growth of pigs and chickens, and deficiencies can lead to increased mortality rates, as shortages impact the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs. Since cereals are typically insufficient in riboflavin, it is added to animal feed to address these gaps. This underscores the significant need for riboflavin in the animal feed industry. As organic livestock and poultry production continues to expand, riboflavin is expected to play a key role in meeting the nutritional requirements of these animals, making it a promising market during the forecast period.

RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2) MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Segmentation: By Source

• Chemical Synthesis

• Fermentation

Currently, microbial fermentation alone is capable of producing riboflavin industrially, without the need for chemical synthesis. This fermentation process allows for the production of vitamin B2 in a single, cost-effective step. In contrast, chemical synthesis involves multiple steps and is much more expensive. As a result, fermentation-based production of riboflavin has replaced chemical synthesis, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Segmentation: By Form

• Powder

• Liquid

The powder segment commands the largest market share and is expected to sustain its growth throughout the forecast period. Riboflavin plays a crucial role in various physiological functions and is essential for the proper growth of blood cells, the brain, the skin, and the lining of the digestive tract. It is most commonly consumed to treat migraines, prevent riboflavin deficiency, and maintain healthy blood homocysteine levels.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Segmentation: By Applications

• Food and Beverages

• Dietary Supplements

• Pharmaceuticals

• Animal Feed

• Personal Care

The animal feed segment dominates the market and is projected to maintain its growth throughout the forecast period. Riboflavin is critical to animal metabolism, supporting essential functions such as tissue repair, particularly in the nervous system, eyes, and mouth. Riboflavin is primarily produced by recombinant microorganisms, including Candida famata, Bacillus subtilis, and Ashbya gossypii. Grazing animals can synthesize vitamin B2 if they consume a diet rich in green plants, with legumes playing a beneficial role in this process. However, other farm animals, such as swine and poultry, cannot produce their own riboflavin and must obtain it from their diet. While riboflavin is commonly found in grains, it is not always present in a form that is easily accessible or absorbable.

As the need for optimal diet compositions in modern poultry and livestock production increases, balancing the minerals and vitamins in these diets has become more important. They also support fat and protein metabolism. In addition, riboflavin serves as an antioxidant, helping to combat free radicals, harmful molecules that can damage cells and DNA, contributing to aging and diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Due to its antioxidant properties, riboflavin is widely used in dietary supplements and other nutraceutical products, where it may help reduce or prevent some of the damage caused by free radicals.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Market Segmentation- by region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific

• South America

• Middle East & Africa

The Asia-Pacific region is the largest contributor to the global riboflavin market and is expected to sustain its growth during the forecast period. Mainland China, with its large middle-class population of over 350 million, stands out as one of the largest markets for dietary supplements. The rising disposable incomes and growing health awareness among Chinese consumers have driven the demand for fortified foods and beverages that contain essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. This increasing demand has significantly contributed to the growth of the riboflavin market in China. Additionally, there has been a surge in the demand for riboflavin supplements, as consumers become more aware of the benefits of nutritional products that help improve memory, regulate blood pressure, and enhance energy levels. Manufacturers such as L-GA are entering the vitamins, minerals, and supplements market by offering products like MultiVita C365, which contains vitamins B2, B6, and C to support energy production, connective tissue formation, and amino acid metabolism.

The riboflavin market in Europe is also anticipated to grow during the forecast period. In Germany, prevalent health issues like anemia, chronic diarrhea, and migraines have led to an increased awareness of the importance of fortified foods, beverages, and supplements. As a result, the demand for riboflavin as an ingredient in these products has risen. The increasing health consciousness, particularly among Germany's aging population, has led to a higher consumption of nutritious products, further driving the demand for riboflavin in functional and fortified food, beverages, and supplements.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the production of riboflavin-fortified food products, primarily due to raw material shortages and transportation restrictions, which negatively impacted the revenue and sales of the global riboflavin market. During the lockdown, manufacturing plants were temporarily shut down, and a shortage of labor further reduced the production of commercial riboflavin. With consumers increasingly seeking healthier products and fortified foods, demand for riboflavin is expected to rise, offering growth opportunities for the market in the coming years.

Latest Trends/ Developments:

May 2023: DSM-Firmenich AG, a global leader in nutrition, health, and beauty innovations, successfully completed its merger with Firmenich International SA.

January 2023: BASF announced an investment aimed at expanding the production capacity of its polymer dispersions at its manufacturing facility in Merak, Indonesia.

November 2022: DSM commenced the construction of a large-scale production facility in Dalry, Scotland, to manufacture Bovaer, a groundbreaking feed additive for ruminants that helps reduce methane emissions.

May 2022: Royal DSM made an agreement to merge with Firmenich, forming DSM-Firmenich. The newly merged company will operate across four business units: perfumery and beauty, food and beverage, health and nutrition, and animal nutrition, with combined sales estimated at EUR

11.5 billion (USD 13.58 billion).